First Do No Harm

Latest Episodes:

Part 2 with Beth Parrish from inspired riding Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

Join us in this episode as we chat with Beth from inspired riding about how we can overcome fear and be more confident when working with our horse. This is such a fun conversation. Beth is the queen of mindset and confidence in the saddle and overcoming fear and adversity around getting in to the saddle. Beth has had numerous injuries that she has had to rehab her way through to get back in to the saddle, so not only does she have the personal tools and skills for overcoming fear and anxiety with riding but she's also been there and do it herself 5 times over.

Beth is a CHA level 3 instructor in both english and western disciplines as well as a level 1 equestrian tai chi instructor. She is also a rapid transformational therapy practitioner so she can enhance her clients transformations rapidly and profoundly.

For more information about Beth and what she does check her out on:

The website here - https://www.InspiredRiding.com

The tai chi workshop here - https://www.inspiredriding.com/store

The focus app here - https://www.inspiredriding.com/focus-app

and the brave in the saddle program here: https://www.inspiredriding.com/brave

Overcoming adversity and fear and connecting with our horse with Beth Parrish from inspired riding part 1 Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

For more information about Beth and what she does check her out on:

The website here - https://www.InspiredRiding.com

The tai chi workshop here - https://www.inspiredriding.com/store

The focus app here - https://www.inspiredriding.com/focus-app

and the brave in the saddle program here: https://www.inspiredriding.com/brave

Part 3 with Shannon from humminghorse equestrian Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

Come down the rabbit hole with me again this time with a new favorite of mine, Shannon Beahen from humminghorse equestrian. Shannon takes us in to the realms of energetics and their physical affect in relationships with our horses. Enjoy part 1 of our 3 part episode.

Check out Shannons work on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humminghorse_equestrian/

Learn more about working with Shannon on her website: https://www.humminghorse.com/

And check out her course cleaning up the contact zone: https://humminghorse-education.thinkific.com/courses/cleaning-up-the-contact-zone

Episode 2 with Shannon from humming horse equestrian Mar 08, 2023

Show notes

Check out Shannons work on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humminghorse_equestrian/

Learn more about working with Shannon on her website: https://www.humminghorse.com/

And check out her course cleaning up the contact zone: https://humminghorse-education.thinkific.com/courses/cleaning-up-the-contact-zone

Horse human relationships and deep awareness with Shannon from humminghorse equestrian Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

Check out Shannons work on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humminghorse_equestrian/

Learn more about working with Shannon on her website: https://www.humminghorse.com/

And check out her course cleaning up the contact zone: https://humminghorse-education.thinkific.com/courses/cleaning-up-the-contact-zone

Being a confident rider isn't all its cracked up to be Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

There have been a few times in my riding career where I've started to think wow I'm actually starting to get good at this. Only to be firmly put back in my place by a or many horses. Confidence in our ability to get our horses to do what we want results in power over, submission based training and rules out the potential for our horse to have choice and consent what is happening to them.
When we are looking to work together as a team we want to be confident in our ability to lead so that our horse seeks us for direction and be flexible in reading their response to our ask and how we respond. That is why our holistic horse handling pillars of relaxation, compassionate leadership, cuing and communication and emotional agility so that every time we ask something of our horse we are reading the response and adapting the ask.

Want to join a like minded community looking for connection in their horse training rather than power over? Join the stronger bond community here

Want to try this connection work you keep hearing about but don't know where to start? Grab our free connection training here

Butekyo breathing and nervous system regulation with Mim Biem Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

July 2022 I went through the Buteyko breathing practitioner training to add a tool to my tool kit when working with the horses and my students. I didn't expect to be so thoroughly impressed by how easily it taps in to our nervous system, although I shouldn't have been surprised with how intimately our breath and nervous system are connected. Mim has been kind enough to offer a quick 3 minute exercise for you to try out with your horses or just by yourself.

It has taken a couple of months practise to build the body awareness and understand the symptoms associated with the shift of nervous system state as well as getting used to how the horses respond and reading their body language in responses and with each practice the horses show us new and exciting things.

To work with Mim you can jump over to her website. https://mimbeim.com/

And if you would like to do the breath training online via zoom you can check that out here. https://mimbeim.com/services/breathe-well-online-course/

If you have been following along with us for a while and know how to recognise tension holding, tension releasing and relaxation cues jump over to our stronger bond community and share how you are seeing your horse respond to the breathing. https://www.facebook.com/groups/5dayimprovehorserelationship

Pressure/Release was simultaneously one of the worst and best lessons I learnt Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

When it comes to training theory, operant conditioning tends to be touted as our gold standard. However, if you've been following us for any period of time you will understand why training isn't this black and white.

In the latest episode of the First Do No Harm Podcast, I share some of my biggest take home lessons from the application of negative reinforcement/pressure release and how it made me a worse training for a period of time while I stumbled back to the middle ground.

We love hearing your aha moments! Jump over to instagram and share with us your biggest take home and don't forget to tag us! https://www.instagram.com/equestrian_movement/

Missing the relationship component in training? Grab our free connection training here

Is frustration getting in the way of your training goals? Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

In this episode I'm going to dig in to one of my many failings - as per normal, my emotional agility for frustration.

Frustration is a biologically, hard-wired response, and any time you have yourself and your horse set a goal and a time frame it is inevitable that you will be at the mercy of frustration.

I've been there, trust me.

In this episode I'm going to share with you some ways I have been working on navigating frustration, so that if you are like me, you can work on your own emotional agility.

Are you experiencing frustration, or have your own tips? Keep the conversation going and join us in the stronger bond community here

Check out our free online connection training here

Some of my big take homes from our work in 2022 Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

In this episode Sarah hijacks the mic to interview me! We talk about the highs and lows 2022, strategic and intentional shaping plans in all areas of our life, why security and stability is vital to your horses mental and emotional health and how this builds trust and confidence.

Looking for a likeminded community to share training notes? Join our stronger bond community.

Grab our free connection training and see what a difference a relationship oriented plan can make